Sufi Bodies: Religion and Society in Medieval Islam by Bashir, Shahzad

Columbia University Press , pp. 296 . Papeback. New.

Paperback / softback. New. Between 1300 and 1500 C.E. a new form of Sufi Islam took hold among central Islamic peoples, joining individuals through widespread networks resembling today's prominent paths and orders. Understanding contemporary Sufism requires a sophisticated analysis of these formative years. Moving beyond a straight account of leaders and movements, Shahzad Bashir weaves a rich history around the depiction of bodily actions by Sufi masters and disciples, primarily in Sufi literature and Persian miniature paintings of the period. Focusing on the Persianate societies of Iran and Central Asia, Bashir explores medieval Sufis' conception of the human body as the primary shuttle between interior (batin) and exterior (zahir) realities. Drawing on literary, historical, and anthropological approaches to corporeality, he studies representations of Sufi bodies in three personal and communal arenas: religious activity in the form of ritual, asceticism, rules of etiquette, and a universal… Read More

Paperback / softback. New.

paperback. Good. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.

Columbia Univ Pr, 2013. Paperback. New. 274 pages. 9.00x6.00x0.75 inches.

Columbia University Press. New. Special order direct from the distributor